Everything is Fine!

There was a bomb scare here the other day. i don't want to go into too much detail about it as the police are investigate as well as i would like to keep myself and the rest of the group and host families safe by not saying too much about things like this. everyone is fine and really the only thing that happened because of it was that there was a major section of the town that had to be cleared and so there was a huge amount of traffic trying to get out of town. It was amazing though, no one would have known what was going on if we had not been told by our professor who had heard about it on the radio before class. the entire class period we heard police sirens and cars honking as we were suppose to be focusing on "Northern Ireland Politics". It really felt like no one really thought anything about it. our professor had told in such a non chalant way that i felt stupid when i ask "Do things like this happen often? and what should we do?" he just kind of looked at me and said that there was nothing we really could do.

After class Me and a few others walked down to the grocery store to get some food for the "Taco night" we all had that evening at one of the host families house. As we were walking police cars were going everywhere and people were just kind of carrying on with their normal business. it was amazing to say the least. I didn't understand how people could hear about something like that and still just sit outside a cafe eating a sandwich and drinking a beer. But it almost felt like it was a taboo subject to talk about with anyone, i felt so conflicted with the aching need to want to learn more about what happened but not wanting to offend anyone by talking about it. people were so quiet about things like this that apparently earlier in the week there was another bomb scare that none of us even knew about!

I have no other way of explaining how i felt than amazed at how everyone around here reacted. but i guess after over 30 years of violence and "troubles" people are use to things like this. which is just hard to imagine when you come from a place that even the smallest things make the news as huge catastrophes. things like this just go to show that although the Belfast agreement of 1998 and the decommissioning of arms in the 21st century have happened. there is still very much so conflict happening in this part of the world. You could ask anyone and they would not hesitate to tell you that immediately.

In other news, Josh has developed a sort of runny nose, and i have had a sore throat and migraines for the last few days. Our program director says that it is just the fact that our bodies are not use to the germs on this side of the ocean yet and that we will get over it but it is getting really annoying. We hung out with our host brother a lot lately too. he is really funny and is always up for a good time, and really knows the good places to go and get a bite to eat. Josh and I ventured into town for lunch yesterday and were able to find a place called Wetherspoons to eat at and got ourselves some burgers!!! they were OK but the fries here, or should I say "chips", are absolutely amazing!

No plans for the weekend as of yet, probably going to start working on some homework and reading and try to relax after making through our first week of classes!! Again to everyone back home. I am fine, I feel safe, and I am having the time of my life!